Kenyanpoet

• Mau Mau Film Festival 6th - 10th August

  Posted: July 31, 2008, 5:40 pm by N.W

  The Kenya Human Rights Commission(KHRC) brings you Mau Mau Film Festival from 6^th – 10^th Augustat the Alliance Francaise Auditorium. Entry is free.
  Opening Night
  Wed 6 Aug| 8pm
  Mau Mau
  a rock price hollywood production
  
  8.45 pmitungati: the mau mau story
  a khrc production
  Thur 7 aug |6.30 PmMau MauI: images of colonisation & independence in kenya
  7.3opm
  mighty times: the legacy of Rosa Parks
  fri 8 aug |6.3o pm1857: the rising - the ballad ofmangal pandeyIndia's first uprising against British colonialism
  
  sat 9 aug | 2.30 pm commandante: oliver stone interviews fidel castro
  
  4.30 pm white man’s countryII: images of colonisation & independence in kenya
  
  6.00 pm the revolution  will not be televised people power defeats coup against president chavez
  
  sun 10 aug 2.30 pmkenyatta Ill: images of colonisation & independence in kenya
  4.00 pm
  the process: the cuban five - the untold story 1o years hands deals with their trial in usa
  5:30 pm malcolm celebrates the whole sweep of an american life

• Fading Faces

  Posted: July 30, 2008, 7:58 pm by N.W

  My familyis notfamiliarwith myfacethat seems tofadelike thefondmemories Ifiddlewith in thefogfilled skies.Like myfuture,I can only seeFewBlissful moments thatFoolMy mind into peace.

• The Unveiling of Number8 (Spoken Word Artist ) at Kenya National Museum

  Posted: July 29, 2008, 6:31 pm by N.W

  Number8 (Dann Mwangi), a spoken word poet who also participated in the last Slam Africa Poetry Competition last month is inviting you to a Spoken word poetry performance on August 8th, 2008(08/08/08) at The Kenya National Museum from 6pm, entry is free. This will primarily be a Spoken word concert-alongside a live band and back ground vocalists. It also doubles up as a Mission Driven pre-album concert as there will be performances of some of the songs that will be in their sophomore album set to be launched early December 2008.He is also currently compiling his po8ry into a book that will be launched on the same day(8th,Aug) at the Museum.

• Kwani LitFest Parties & Events, August 1st - 9th

  Posted: July 29, 2008, 5:09 pm by N.W

   This is the full list of Parties & Events at the Kwani? Literature Festival 2008
  You can register online or contact the Kwani Lit Fest:
  Email: litfest [@] kwani.org
  Tel:+ 254 20 2364682, Mobile: +254.735.564.377
  Full list of the Workshops can be found here
  
  Opening party at Electropulco - Readings, performers, superb electronica group Just a Band, dj sets by Jean-Marie & Ugomatic and a host of glitterati. Come see, be seen, take in the creative vibe and the great tunes.
  Friday August 1st (8.30pm onwards) @ Acapulco, Muthithi Road, Entrance Ksh 200/=
  
  Magfest - Spend an afternoon talking to some of Kenya’s most established Magazine publishers and writers including Expression Today, Awaaz Magazine, Wajibu and more. Live Jazz band
  Saturday August 2nd (2.30 - 5.30pm) @ Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens, Karen
  
  Finding Your Voice – Internationally acclaimed Gambian author Dayo Forster on Finding your Voice. Plus interviews, mingling with authors and a chance to purchase books
  Saturday August 2nd (5.30-7.30pm) @ Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens 300/=
  
  Sunday Salon - A special session of the regular Sunday Salon event with 4 new Kwani titles to buy. Billy Kahora and Andia Kisia will read from their kwaninis, while David Kaiser focuses on the new Kwani 05. Plus Stanley Gazemba with a relaunch of the Stone Hills of Maragoli
  Sunday August 3rd (7-9pm) @ Kengele’s Lavington 300/=
  Children’s Book Launch- WSPA proudly sponsors the launch of the Kiswahili translation of a children’s anthology, “Mzigo Usioyamkinika” (The Unlikely Burden) with free books for the first 50 people. The Mediae Trust’s will provide a talk about how to include educational content in stories & the importance of storytelling in education followed by a video showing of “Ostrich and Hyena”.
  John Sibi-Okumu will also launch his new book, Tom Mboya - Master of Mass Management, (a Longhorn/SasaSema Publication).
  Fun activities for children including bouncy castle and face painting.
  Sunday August 3rd (1-5pm), Kabete Junior Academy, Lakeview. 500/= adults and 250/= children (includes lunch)
  
  Courting Controversy – Discusson with Kalundi Serumaga
  Monday August 4th (2:30pm), @ Club Undecided, Westlands
  
  Storymoja Book Club - A forum that gives book lovers an opportunity to discuss and share their opinions on books they have read. Kwani LItfest special includes the presence of author Doreen Baingana who’s award winning book Tropical Fish is under discussion.
  Monday August 4th (6 - 8pm) @ Books First Restaurant on the first floor of Nakumatt Lifestyle, Monrovia Street 200/= non members
  
  Open Mic- Litfest brings the results of Spoken Word to the regular Open Mic. See our special poets, come try your skills
  Tuesday August 5th @ Club Soundd, Standard Street
  
  Reading with Children - Stanley Gazemba reads excerpts from, WSPA’s recently published Kiswahili translation of “The Unlikely Burden” and parts of his new book with children from Kangemi at the WECOSA Resource Centre.
  Wednesday August 6th (2.30-4.00pm) @ WECOSA Centre, Kangemi (next to St. Joseph’s)
  
  NuMetro Readings - Join the Kwani crew for an evening reading and glass of wine with some of Africa’s leading writers including Kalundi Serumaga, Aminatta Forna and Billy Kahora.
  Wednesday August 6th (6.30pm onwards) @ NuMetro, Westgate (opp. Nakumatt Ukay), FREE OF CHARGE
  
  Strength in Diversity- An entertaining storytelling session based on the book In the Land of the Kitchen, which addresses typical discrimination scenarios in the workplace. The story will stimulate lively discussions, moderated by Mildred Awiti, a professional trainer.
  Wednesday August 6th (6-8pm) @ Louis Leakey Room, National Museum. 500/=
  Making Sense of Violence - How does one reconcile the mundane acts of everyday life with acts of daily violence and horror? Writers who struggle to make sense of humanity in times of overwhelming calamity discuss how to capture the enormity of these events in fiction. A public discussion at Nairobi University with Ishmael Beah, Kalundi Serumaga, Wambui Mwangi and other local writers.
  August 7th (2.30 - 5.30pm) @ School of Journalism Nairobi University, ED II, Entrance FREE
  Kibera Film Night - A celebration of new and old films. This is part of an ongoing screening series in Kibera by Hot Sun Foundation with technical support from FilmAid. Opening talk by Ishmael Beah.
  Main Feature: Mohinder Dhillon’s “African Runners”
  Short Films Include: Kibera Kid, A Knife Grinder’s Tale (based on the short story by Yvonne Owuor), and Train Menace in Kibera
  Thursday August 7th (7pm - 9pm) @ Kamakunji grounds, Kibera
  
  Literary Dinner: The Process of Memoir and Non Fiction with Aminatta Forna and Antony Altbeker. Plus publishing tips from Random House editor Ellah Allfrey
  Thursday August 7th (8pm onwards) @ Tamambo, The Mall, Westlands. 1900/= (inc. course dinner)
  
  Revisioning Kenya After Party together with Authors in Conversation - Join the speakers from the conference and a roster of international writers including Ishmael Beah, Aminatta Forna and Chimamanda Adichie for readings, performances, networking and superb bitings. Official launch of Kwani 05
  Friday August 8th @ Kifaru Garden, Kanjata Road 1900/= including dinner, kwanini and welcome drink
  
  All things Theatre - Actor/Playwright John Sibi-Okumu will moderate a morning panel discussion on the state of Kenyan theatre today followed by a FREE afternoon performance of Eric Wainaina’s Lwanda. Panelists will include seasoned practitioners Alakie Mboya, Keith Pearson, Eliud Abuto and Cajetan Boy with Ugandan Kalundi Serumaga giving an outsiders perspective. Audience participation welcomed.
  
  Lwanda, A Ghetto Story: The modern retelling of a Luo folk story about the
  mythical Man of Stone, this musical theatre masterpiece written by Kora award-winning Kenyan singer-songwriter Eric Wainaina presents a gripping story of Nairobi slum life. Exploitation of the poor, manipulation of the weak….the people of Kwa Maji slum must find their voice and stand up to the unscrupulous elite who threaten their lives and livelihoods.
  Saturday August 9th @ Kenya National Theatre.
  Panel Discussion: 11:30am - 1:30pm ENTRANCE FREE
  Performance: The musical Lwanda, 2:30pm ENTRANCE FREE

• Poems of Good Hope competition

  Posted: July 28, 2008, 4:12 pm by N.W

  IBM Germany and the international Literature Festival Berlin are announcing a poetry contest. From the 5th July until 30th August all users of the site www.sawubona-musicjam.com are invited to put a poem on the subject of "Good Hope" on the website. It should not exceed 30 lines. Poems in any language are welcome but only an English version which is either the author's own or the translation by any other user of the site will participate in the contest. Winners will be announced on September 10^th.
  
  With the help of the website's users through simple ratings, the ten best poems will be shortlisted. Five international will then assess shortlisted ones and elect the win-ners of the contest. The decision of the jury will be made known on the 10th September at the 8th international literature festival berlin.
  
  Prizes:
  The first prize involves a trip to South Africa and a cash award of 500 Euro. 2nd and 3rd to receive the cash award of 500 Euro only. In the event that the author and the translator are not one and the same person, the cash awards will be equally shared between both of them. The trip to South Africa will be awarded in that case to each of the winners - author and translator.
  
  Moreover the international literature festival berlin will select one participant of the competition who will have the possibility of appearing in the context of the Poetry Slam Show (more information is to be found at www.literaturfestival.com) at the 8th international literature festival berlin.
  
  Contest Requirements

  • Requirement for participation is the availability of the poem besides the author‘s native language in english.
  • The author can add his own translation or other users can translate his poem into english. Both the author of the original poem and the author of the best translation have the chance of winning. The prize will be splitted between both.
  • Every poem must be submitted under the creative commons license "Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Germany".

• 'Just A Band' First Live Concert to Debut in Kenya

  Posted: July 24, 2008, 11:20 pm by N.W

  I think I have been living under a rock, I just got to learn about this group 'Just a Band' this week. 
  Just A Band is a Kenyan house/funk/disco band whose career was launched with their debut album, Scratch To Reveal, in 2008. Their music has explored various musical directions such as, but not limited to jazz, hip-hop, disco and electronica^.
  The band are also notable for their DIY aesthetic. In addition to writing, recording and engineering their music, the band creates their own music videos, packaging and promotional items and establishing a strong web and blog presence^, referencing elements from virtual band like Gorillaz and incorporating anime and animation, illustration and photography in their visual campaigns.
  They will, FOR THE FIRST TIME and in Kenya, have a LIVE Concert at Electropulco, marking the opening party for the KwaniLitFest, friday August 1st from 8.30pm(Acapulco, Muthithi Rd, westlands) Entrance Charges are Ksh. 200.
  Out of all the songs I saw/heard namely, Maisha, Fly and Lalalalala, I love the latter most. I don't know if its coz of the choice of language(its in pure Swa) and also the afrofusion feel to it. ah! I give them props for this(again am not all that into electronica and Disco, but I will dance, heehehheh)
  Watch the video here as you prepare to come watch them Live and hopefully grab one of the free cds they'll be throwing to the crowds.
  

• Poets & Writers liven up Kenya National Library Services

  Posted: July 24, 2008, 9:48 pm by N.W

  A few hours ago, I was at the Kenya National Library Services for the first in a series of poetry and readings that will be held at the venue every two months.
  
  An idea was conceptualized by the Kwani team with an aim of increasing the spaces where literature is shared, and what better place than where it is lying in between book covers waiting to be made alive.
  The provincial librarian officially opened the event with an aura of oldschoolness (he ordered the Citizen TV crew to be seated despite them trying to set up and record the event and later ordered guys to clap for him for a great speech, lol)
  
  Well, the sweet Annette who was the event’s Emcee managed to radiate the Kwani feeling of free speech and invited yours truly onto the stage,(she’d mistakenly thought that Ndanu – the winner of ‘to be a man’ competition, was performing. I guess Ndanu’s day at the office was abit cold, she didn’t want to freeze further from guy’s inquisitive eyes)
  
  I performed the first part of the piece ‘When change comes’. I was informed it’s quite lengthy and the last thing I wanted to do was have people starting to yawn or get their cellphones out to play games (you get my drift). I also performed ‘Welcome to America’; a piece I feel should be drummed into our heads lest we think that we will move to Canaan (stato) when Obama (our son) becomes orezo. America won’t change much; the Ku Klux Clan will still be there. I digress.
  Next was Samuel Munene with his piece on a friend who wanted a mzungu boyfriend. Sam always amazes me on how he’s able to narrate his stories; the humor is just too fresh.
  Cindy Ogana who finally mastered the courage to perform her work without reading it, (go gal) shared with the crowd he dilemma between reading her works and performing. She did finally perform a piece, reminiscent of the post election Violence.
  
  Binyavanga Wainaina whose first name I must say, first got me questioning his Nationality, was in and he did read excerpts from his upcoming book ‘Discovering Home’. Those like me who have been perturbed by his name got to know the story behind it and more. Look out for the book when it comes it, I can promise it will be a great read.
  
  Philo Ikonya, Kingwa Kamencu shared their written stories. I however missed  Tony Mochama's performance, had to leave before the event ended. I hope the timing for subsequent events will be reconsidered.

• Women Behaving Badly

  Posted: July 22, 2008, 7:53 pm by N.W

  I am your typical girl from the Slopes
  Who was taught that trousers are for men
  Shorts for boys
  And well
  Dresses and skirts are for women and girls.
  My grand mother always insisted
  Red ink appeared on the lips of those who drank blood
  Paint on nails was as rare to see as the occasional chapattis made over the festive season
  
  I am your typical woman from the village
  I wake up when the sun is still hiding far in the horizon.
  Walk hours on end to the river to put water in the 2 mitungis
  5 times I go back and forth,
  The cows need to drink, Chicken, pigs, goats
  Clothes washed,
  The utensils from last night washed
  Njeri & Kamau will bathe tomorrow
  
  My husband
  Snoring like a pig
  Wakes up and shouts
  Wanjiru Winaku ?
  Wewe ni mwanamke ama mfano!
  “ I am going to Nairofi to rook for a real woman”
  A woman who is learned
  A woman with kirathi
  Not rike you
  Everytime I want
  Always compraining
  Head, back, feet, stomach, teeth, hair, ah!
  I want a Nairofi woman
  
  I hate Nairofi women, those whish my husband wants
  Yet he can’t have for more than a night
  These women, is rike their eyes have been ricked by wild cats
  They oroways want things
  I want pizza (what in God’s name is that?),
  I want a ndesigner handbag,
  I want clothes,
  I want money,
  They only return his smiles when they can smell money on him
  Like dogs on heat they follow him everywhere
  Kwamaiko bar, sirikiso, they even have no shame
  Coming into the compound asking for Mike!
  Ati -Mathe ako wapi Mike?
  Is micheal your mother
  Micheal ni nyukwa!
  
  Look at them, these women,
  They behave so badly like its going out of style
  Like the solea I still apply to my face
  Like the hotcomb I still use to fry my hair
  These women behave like wild cats
  With painted faces, like Wangu the witch
  Torn clothes like a cow was eating them
  With tight trousers I wonder if they were poured into them
  And panties peeping out of their behinds like they want to come out and be worn on top
  
  But they say, I am not a well behaved woman,
  That I am a shame to real women
  They say, my covered hair in mother’s union headscarf,
  Long dress, cracked feet and plain face
  Should be cultural artifacts in the National museum
  
  I say
  They can go jump in a river
  They are the real W.B.B (Women Behaving Badly)
  
  --------------------------------------------------
  N.W
  All rights Reserved©
  
  Inspired by a theme event at the GoDown Art Center some while back
  --------------------------------------------------

• Foreign Correspondent's Literary Image of Africa - From Stanley To Kapuscinski

  Posted: July 22, 2008, 7:51 pm by N.W

  FROM STANLEY TO KAPUSCINSKI - How foreign correspondents have formed the literary image of Africa.
  
  A panel discussion featuring
  Binyavanga Wainaina, Jonathan Ledgard, Maryanne Fitzgerald
  Moderated by Steve Bloomfield
  
  23rd July 7 pm, start at Alfajiri, Maalim Juma Road, opposite Royal Media
  
  "We went into the heart of Africa self-invited — therein lies our
  fault." (Henry Morton Stanley)
  
  Since Stanley became the first man to cross Africa and write about it
  for the New York Herald, the literary image of Africa has been inked
  by foreign correspondents turned writers - Mark Twain, Ernest
  Hemingway, Graham Greene, and Evelyn Waugh among them.
  Can the continent ever escape the dark romantics?
  

• Rwanda Special;July 22nd, 24th & 29th @ Goethe-Institut

  Posted: July 22, 2008, 7:50 pm by N.W

  Screenings of movies from Rwanda eg. 100 days will take place at the  at Goethe-Institut, Nairobi Library Lounge, July 22nd, 24th and 29th, from 6pm, free entrance. More from NairobiNow

• Kwani? Special at Kenya National Library,Nairobi

  Posted: July 22, 2008, 7:32 pm by N.W

  
  Kwani? will host an interactive session featuring poetry performances, prose readings and story telling this Thursday at the Kenya National Library in Upper Hill Nairobi from 2 - 4pm.
  The event will feature Binyavanga Wainaina, Cindy Ogana, Njeri Wangari and Samuel Munene(whose work 'Obama My Uncle has been featured on this blog).
  
  This is a great opportunity to get information on how to participate in the Kwani Literary Festival and register for the writers' workshops.

• Tim Mwaura Takes the Slam Poetry Title

  Posted: July 15, 2008, 9:03 pm by N.W

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  On Friday 11th July, 11 slam poets were at Dass Restaurant ready to battle for the much publicized slam poetry competition. Poetry fans had thronged the place by 9.pm, the scheduled start time for the slam. The place held more than the recommended capacity as half the crowd had to stand at the back (near the bar counter) as all seats were occupied.

  Neema Ngwatilo started of by warming the stage with her legendary 'Goat Meat', a piece that always showcases her prowess in stage performance and her ability to take the audience into her journey of this delicacy(which is off course a deep piece about more than just goat meat).

  The event emcee for the evening was Imani. Blaze was behind the scenes making sure that we got the best of underground hip hop and Neo soul music ( I didn't know Guru had such great music).

  Soon after Imani welcomed the crowd and gave a brief of the evening and basic rules of the slam, the first poet, Dennis Inkwa came up to the stage. His piece on the many women who came into and out of his life, left everyone in tears of laughter. He has this thing with accents that he seems to have perfected and it worked very well for his performance. However, being the first act, the judges were a bit reserved in their scores and so he was not able to make it back on stage.

  The next slam poets were, Sad, James with a piece on matata, Tim, Black Skillz, Number 8, Obaladan with a hilarious piece on his 'Mujojo', Afiya, Kawira, Eudiah and yours truly, N.W with a piece on 'Matatu Culture'

  Only 6 slammers (they should have been 5 but there was a tie) were able to make it to the 2nd round:- Tim, Obala, Blackskillz, Sad, No.8 and Kenyanpoet(the only lady to make it to the next round, but do I say)

  The final round was between Tim, Obaladan and No.8, Tim Mwaura came out as the Slam Champion with 28.5Points beating his closest opponent with only 2 points.

  It was an evening full of fun although the rules for the slam were not followed strictly. It was however a great start as there will be other such slams held every end month. The aim; to come up with the 'Kenyan slam dream team' that will go on to start the concept of slam in countries where WAPI has presence (Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria etc)

  For me, like the other slam poets, it was a chance to gauge oneself in all aspects of content, flow, stage presence, crowd involvement and guts.

  I can promise you that Tim will not have it easy in the next slam (that’s a challenge to me). All those who came for the event felt that it was an evening well spent and most signed up for updates on the next Slam Poetry event. Keep it here for info on the next Poetry Slam event.

• Rhythm & Spoken Poetry

  Posted: July 14, 2008, 11:42 pm by N.W

  Rhythm & Spoken
  Friday 18th July
  Dass Ethiopian restaurant
  Woodvale Grove, Westlands
  Starts:8:30pm
  Performances:9-10:30pm
  Entry:100
  if you would like to feature call/text:0728-293632
  or email: projectheshima@hotmail.com

• KenyanPoet at Poetry Slam; A rough guide into Slams

  Posted: July 7, 2008, 9:54 pm by N.W

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  Anyone living in Nairobi will attest to the fast growth of poetry performance in recent years. I have talked of this in my previous posts on this forum(here) and here.
  
  

  With almost 3 constant Poetry performance forums every month, many budding poets as well as those who have been in the game for long have been thronging these venues. What is evident is also the interest it has sparked among those who were only writing their poetic pieces but hoping to one day have them published. The open mic sessions which are usually incorporated in these night's performances gives a chance to such potential performing poets and with great sucess I must say.

  It has however become abit mind boggling telling the difference between these terms:- Poetry reading, Poetry performance and spoken world performance. Many might say there isn't much difference. That is why Imani INC(Yes by Imani the Poet) and Spark Africa(Buddha Blaze) came together to start the first Slam poetry of its kind in Kenya, and to an extent, Africa.

  The idea behind the slam is not for the competition but mainly to set standards in poetry/spoken word performance(we may use the word benchmark). In a previous post on this forum, I tackled this question, "What is Spoken word performance?" If you have watched any DefJam poetry shows then you will get the drift.

  This Friday, 11th July 08, come to the Dass Restaurant for a poetry slam night. This will be the first in a series of Slam events that will be held all over Africa, a culmination of Slam Africa Competition that will seek to find the best Spoken word performer in Africa.

  Your's truly will be among those competing, so come on and show your love. "It will be a metamorphosis of poetry"by Imani Woomera
  
  

  What is Poetry slam and how does it work?

  Simply put, poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. Established in the mid-80s as a means to heighten public interest in poetry readings, slam has evolved into an international art form emphasizing audience involvement and poetic excellence.

  In the majority of slam series, organizers stage weekly or monthly events in a public space, such as a bar or cafe.

  Origins

  Marc Smith is credited with starting the poetry slam at the Get Me High Lounge in Chicago in November 1984 In July 1986, the slam moved to its permanent Chicago home, the Green Mill Jazz Club. In 1990, the first National Poetry Slam took place in Fort Mason, San Fransisco, involving a team from Chicago, a team from San Francisco, and an individual poet from New York. The National Poetry Slam has grown and currently features approximately 75 certified teams each year, culminating in five days of competition. National poetry slam results

  Slam Poetry Rules

  Poets wishing to compete sign up with a host, and the host finds five audience members who wish to serve as judges. Poets must follow a series of rules: the poems must be of each poet's own construction, the poet may not use props, costumes, or musical instruments, and if the poet goes over the time limit (three minutes plus a 10-second grace period), points are deducted from his or her score. Judges, who are encouraged to factor both content and performance into their evaluations, judge each poet on a 0.0 to 10.0 scale. The high score and low score are dropped, and the middle three scores become the score for that particular poet.

  To insure that the entire audience is involved, the host encourages the audience to respond to the poet in any way they see fit, be it impassioned cheering or lusty booing. The judges, in turn, are encouraged to remain consistent with themselves and not let the audience influence them.

  In a typical competition, all poets read one poem in the first round. Based on the scores they receive, the top-scoring poets go on to the second round, and from that pool, a smaller number of the highest-scoring poets in the second round go on to the third and final round. While the specifics vary from slam to slam, certified slams adhere to this basic structure, insuring that poets must seek to make immediate connections with the audience in order to continue on. Cash prizes or other prizes are offered to the winner as further impetus for performing well. In most cities, the slam series culminates with a final slam at the end of the season to determine which poets will represent the city at the National Poetry Slam.
  Slam Poetry Style & Influences
  Poetry slams feature a broad range of voices, styles, cultural traditions, and approaches to writing and performance. Some poets are closely associated with the vocal delivery style found in hip-hop music and draw heavily on the tradition of dub poetry, a rhythmic and politicized genre belonging to black and particularly West Indian culture. Others employ an unrhyming narrative formula. Some use traditional theatric devices including shifting voices and tones, while others may recite an entire poem in ironic monotone. Some poets use nothing but their words to deliver a poem, while others stretch the boundaries of the format, tap-dancing or beatboxing or using highly-choreographed movements.

  Succes of Slam Events

  By adhering to a structure that factors in the audience at such a basic and integral level, slams have emerged as the most vital and best-attended of many cities' regular poetry events. Whereas many open mike events tend to serve either the poets who participate or a particular target community, slam's emphasis on addressing the audience has garnered slam a more inclusive, more diverse audience than the typical poetry reading. By marrying poetry with competition, slam has allowed non-traditional audiences a tangible and intriguing avenue for experiencing poetry in a live prime-time setting.
  
  "The spoken word revolution is led a lot by women and by poets of color. It gives a depth to the nation's dialogue that you don't hear on the floor of Congress. I want a floor of Congress to look more like a National Poetry Slam. That would make me happy." Bob Holman
  
  Read about the complete history of Slam Poetry.

• My mother’s Tongue

  Posted: July 3, 2008, 7:31 pm by N.W

  
  The first words I uttered were, tata and mama
  Only a child then muttering
  Like an echo from a distance
  Words that I only resonated.
  My mother’s lips,
  The roll of her tongue
  The flow of her words
  The role of my mother’s tongue
  Yes
  My mother tongue
  
  A tongue that has created a sound to the maker of culture
  A tongue that has created words whose proverbs made warriors of men
  A tongue that carried the weight of images
  Like a film, capturing and describing every heartbeat, every beat of a drum
  Every sun’s heat
  A tongue that formed solid gold words
  Whose words inspired thought of men to form tales, proverbs, idioms
  A tongue that gave birth to poetry, wise saying and folklore
  My mother’s tongue
  Yes
  My mother tongue
  
  I love my mother tongue
  Its cai and sukari sounds
  Like a snake hissing
  Words no other tongue can utter
  Nor explain their dept in meaning
  Deeper than still waters
  Broader than the rift in the great valley
  
  But why am I so afraid,
  Ashamed to let my tongue roll these words
  My lips like Maya Angelou’s bird are caged by foreign tongues
  
  My mother tongue is but a ghost now,
  A tongue ghost that haunts me fighting to be a living memory
  Fighting to reveal forgotten mysteries
  Resurrect me from white cemeteries
  Mass graves of western sanctuaries
  
  Oh mother speak!
  Call me out from this tomb
  Unearth the soil of ignorance, sophistication with your bare hands
  Call me out, break this spell that haunts me
  Let me take the remnants of your tongue’s pride
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  N.W
  Kenyanpoet@gmail.com
  All rights Reserved©
  
  
  

• UNBOWED & STORYMOJA NYAMACHOMA FIESTA

  Posted: July 2, 2008, 8:09 pm by N.W

  UNBOWED!
  "By the time of my court hearing, my legs had completely seized up, crying from the pain and weak from hunger. I had to be carried by four strong policewomen into the court room. It was strange for me to feel so helpless. People were shocked when they saw me unable even to stand to hear the charges read. "What have they given her!? They have killed her!" People shouted.
  (excerpt from Prof. Wangari Maathai's autobiography 'Unbowed, one woman's story')
  
  How far are you willing to go to defend what you believe in?
  
  The story of Nobel laureate Prof Wangari Maathai is one of a woman who would not flinch in the defense of what she believed in. Its the story of the extraordinary life, struggle and rise of this extraordinary lady from the little village of Ihithe, Tetu District, who rose to be the first female Nobel Laureate on the continent. It's a story of passion, humility, determination and above all unwavering courage in the face of overwhelming odds. It's the story of what this nation desperately needs at this hour; leadership that is dedicated to a cause greater than self.
  
  On the 7th of July, special guest Hon Njoki Ndungu and the Storymoja Book Club look at the life and times of Kenya's first Nobel Laureate Prof.Wangari Maathai as written in her autobiography 'Unbowed, one woman's story' and the forces that shaped her life to produce the icon that she is today. Come join us and share with us at Books First Restaurant, 1st floor, Nakumatt Lifestyle between 6pm and 8pm.
  
  
  STORYMOJA NYAMACHOMA FIESTA ON 10TH AUGUST 2008
  Story Moja team invites you to join them in celebrating Kenyan stories by attending the 2008 Storymoja Nyamachoma Reading Fiesta.
  This is the second annual Fiesta. It will be held on Sunday 10th August at Impala Club grounds. The theme of this year’s event is, ‘Storytelling for Peace’.
  In preparation for the event, they plan to run four different build-up activities commencing mid-June 2008 in order to generate excitement and pre-sell tickets for the Fiesta.
  The Build- up events will be from mid-June to 1st August
  For more info contact David for more info. david (at )storymojaafrica.co.ke
  
  

• Our husband has gone mad again & Nuts

  Posted: July 2, 2008, 7:34 pm by N.W

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  Festival of Creative Arts (FCA), this weekend bring you Nuts & Our Husband has gone mad again.
  Nuts will be showing at the French Cultural Center from the 3^rd to 6^thJuly.. Our husband…will be showing at the Kenya National Theatre from 4^th to 6^th July
  
  

  Charges are:

  Adults : Ksh. 400

  Students : Ksh. 300
  Advance : Ksh. 300
  They have a special offer of Ksh. 600 if one buys tickets for both plays.

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes